The Surprising Origins of Valentine's Day

From wolves to whipping, the history of this romantic holiday is more complex than you might think.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In this humorous and insightful op-ed, writer John Boston explores the little-known origins of Valentine's Day, tracing its roots back to ancient Arcadian festivals involving wolves, communal pots of human flesh, and young men whipping women to make them fertile. Boston also recounts his own childhood memories of being forced to make Valentine's Day cards for classmates he disliked, questioning the sincerity behind the modern holiday's traditions.

Why it matters

Valentine's Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays, yet many people are unaware of its complex and sometimes unsettling historical origins. Understanding the holiday's pagan and violent roots provides important context around the modern commercialized version, raising questions about the true meaning and purpose of Valentine's Day.

The details

The origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to ancient Arcadian festivals like Lykaia, where young men would eat from a communal pot that contained a piece of human flesh, transforming them into wolves for a year. This was connected to the mating season of she-wolves in mid-February. Later, the Romans adopted this festival as Lupercalia, where young men would run through the streets whipping women, supposedly to increase their fertility. It wasn't until 498 AD that the Pope sought to Christianize the holiday by declaring February 14th as St. Valentine's Day, though the romantic associations didn't emerge until the 14th century with Chaucer's poetry.

  • In the 3rd century AD, Roman emperor Claudius II executed two men named Valentine for defying his edict against young men marrying.
  • In 498 AD, the Pope declared February 14th as St. Valentine's Day.
  • Around 1380, the writer Chaucer helped establish the romantic associations with Valentine's Day in his poem 'Parliament of Fowls'.

The players

St. Valentine

A Catholic priest who was executed by Roman emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century AD for secretly marrying young couples, defying Claudius' edict.

Claudius II

The Roman emperor who executed St. Valentine, believing that single men made better soldiers than married men.

John Boston

A lifelong Santa Clarita Valley resident and prolific humorist and satirist, who wrote this op-ed exploring the surprising origins of Valentine's Day.

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What they’re saying

“Why did you force me to write a Valentine's Day card in second grade to my immortal enemy, Gary Rutherford?”

— John Boston, Humorist and Satirist (signalscv.com)

“Crazy thing, it was in 498 A.D. when the pope honored you, St. Val. It had nothing to do with romance and that link would come much later, around 1380, with the fabled writer Chaucer and his romantic poem, 'Parliament of Fowls.'”

— John Boston, Humorist and Satirist (signalscv.com)

What’s next

The history of Valentine's Day continues to be a topic of fascination and debate, with scholars and historians exploring its complex origins and evolution over the centuries.

The takeaway

While the modern Valentine's Day is a commercialized celebration of romance, its roots in ancient pagan festivals and violent rituals serve as a reminder that the holiday's true meaning and significance has shifted dramatically over time. Understanding this history can provide valuable context around the holiday's modern traditions and practices.